By Venancia.Ndoo, Fri, 27/09/2013 - 12:10

BirdLife International, the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and the Ethiopian Wildlife and Natural History Society, in their role as Regional Implementation Team (RIT) for the Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund (CEPF) in the Eastern Afromontane Biodiversity Hotspot, invite civil society organizations to submit Letters of Inquiry (LOIs) for projects in Ethiopia, Burundi, DRC, Rwanda, Tanzania, Malawi, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

Eligible applicants are NGOs, community groups, private enterprises, universities, and other civil society organizations. Government institutions are eligible in certain circumstances. This call for proposal is open for large grants (USD 20,000 - USD 150,000) and for small grants (USD 20,000 and less).

Small grants (i.e., US$20 thousand and less): 14 November 2013

Applicants must submit a Letter of Inquiry (LOI) in English or French using the form available at http://bit.ly/CEPF-EAM-SGP. LOIs must be submitted electronically to BirdLife International at CEPF-EAM-SGP@birdlife.org. BirdLife International will not accept hardcopy LOIs. You will receive an email acknowledging receipt of your application.

SCOPE OF CALL

This is the fourth of several Calls for Proposals over the investment period of 2012-2017 and as such, is purposefully limited in scope, focusing on CEPF StrategicDirection 1, Investment Priority 1.3; and Strategic Direction 3, Investment Priorities 3.1, 3.2 and 3.3, as described in the Ecosystem Profile. We will not accept proposals for other Strategic Directions / Investment Priorities at this stage.

Strategic Direction1. Mainstream biodiversity into wider development policies, plans and projects to deliver the co-benefits of biodiversity conservation, improved local livelihoods and economic development in priority corridors.

Investment Priority 1.3. Support civil society to build positive relationships with the private sector to develop sustainable, long-term economic activities that will benefit biodiversity and reduce poverty in priority corridors.

Strategic Direction 3. Initiate and support sustainable financing and related actions for the conservation of priority KBAs and corridors.

Investment Priority3.3. Support training for civil society organizations in fund-raising and project management, especially training such organizations at all levels with respect to emerging opportunities for sustainable financing for KBAs in Africa.

The Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund (CEPF) is a joint initiative of l’Agence Française de Développement, Conservation International, the European Union, the Global Environment Facility, the Government of Japan, the MacArthur Foundation, and the World Bank. A fundamental goal is to ensure civil society is engaged in biodiversity conservation. More information on CEPF can be found at www.cepf.net.